Providing credit inquiry alerts

• US 10,719,873 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2017
• Issued: 07/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consumerinfo.com Incorporated (Experian plc)
• Original Assignee: Consumerinfo.com Incorporated (Experian plc)
• Inventors: Dean, Michael John, Kapczynski, Mark Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalinowski, Alexander G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Preston, John O
• Application Number:
  US15/463,828
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 705 44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/425 using two different networks, one for transaction and one for security confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for generating and delivering an alert to an individual regarding a credit inquiry. For example, an inquiry request may be received that includes a request for credit data associated with an individual. An alert may then be generated and provided to the individual based on retrieved contact information associated with the individual. In some embodiments, the alert is generated regardless of whether the inquiry causes a change to credit data associated with the individual.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices configured with specific executable instructions, an inquiry request from a requesting entity, wherein the inquiry request includes a request for credit data associated with an individual, wherein the inquiry request is received prior to the inquiry request causing any change to credit data associated with the individual in a credit bureau database;

in response to receiving the inquiry request;

retrieving, by the computing system, contact information associated with the individual from an electronic data store, wherein the retrieved contact information includes at least one of a phone number, an IP address, or a device identifier associated with a mobile device of the individual;

generating, by the computing system, an alert for delivery to the individual, the alert including information identifying the requesting entity, wherein the alert is generated (a) substantially in real time when the request for credit data is received, (b) before or contemporaneously with a processing by a credit bureau of the request for credit data, and (c) without reference to credit data or financial data associated with the individual, wherein the alert includes a selectable option that enables the individual to indicate that the individual does not authorize credit data to be provided to the requesting entity;

electronically providing the alert to the individual based on the retrieved contact information, wherein electronically providing the alert to the individual comprises sending, by the computing system, the alert to the mobile device of the individual as at least one of;

a push notification or an automated text message, wherein the alert activates an application operating on the mobile device to cause display of the selectable option that enables connection to the computing system over the Internet, wherein the alert includes the selectable option for display as at least one of a link or a button;

receiving a response, by the computing system, from the mobile device of the individual indicating that the selectable option within the alert was selected; and

based on the response received from the mobile device of the individual, automatically preventing the computing system from releasing credit data associated with the individual to the requesting entity.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alert is provided to the individual prior to the inquiry request causing any change to credit data associated with the individual.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising establishing, by the computing system, a time period of a predetermined length during which the individual may respond to the alert, wherein the time period is set to be a predetermined number of seconds or minutes, wherein the computing system is configured to release credit data associated with the individual to the requesting entity as a default action at the end of the time period unless a response to the alert is received by the computing system during the time period.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the computing system that generates the alert is associated with a credit bureau.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the contact information for the individual is received in association with enrollment by the individual in a notification service.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alert is generated in association with a credit monitoring service.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alert is provided to the mobile device of the individual as the push notification to the application operating on the mobile device of the individual.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alert is provided to the mobile device of the individual as the automated text message to the phone number associated with the mobile device of the individual.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the automated text message is an SMS message.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alert includes an option to view additional information associated with the inquiry request, wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises:

in response to selection of the option to view additional information associated with the inquiry request, generating a user interface for display, wherein the user interface includes the additional information and is provided in association with a credit monitoring account of the individual.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising processing the inquiry request with reference to the credit bureau database in parallel with the generating of the alert for delivery to the individual, wherein processing the inquiry request comprises retrieving credit data responsive to the inquiry request.

12. A system comprising:

a data store that stores information associated with one or more individuals, wherein the information includes member information indicating respective individuals enrolled in a notification service;

a computing device in communication with the data store and that is configured to at least;

receive an inquiry request from a requesting entity, wherein the inquiry request includes a request for credit data associated with an individual, wherein the inquiry request is received prior to the inquiry request causing any change to credit data associated with the individual in a credit bureau database;

determine that the individual is enrolled in the notification service based at least in part by comparing information associated with the inquiry request and member information retrieved from the data store, wherein the information compared includes at least one of a name, a social security number or an address;

in response to receiving the inquiry request and determining that the individual is enrolled in the notification service;

retrieve contact information associated with the individual from the data store, wherein the retrieved contact information includes at least one of a phone number, an IP address, or a device identifier associated with a mobile device of the individual;

generate an alert for delivery to the individual, the alert including information identifying the requesting entity, wherein the alert is generated (a) substantially in real time when the request for credit data is received, (b) before or contemporaneously with a processing by a credit bureau of the request for credit data, and (c) without reference to credit data or financial data associated with the individual, wherein the alert includes a selectable option that enables the individual to indicate that the individual does not authorize credit data to be provided to the requesting entity;

electronically provide the alert to the individual based on the retrieved contact information, wherein electronically providing the alert to the individual comprises sending the alert to the mobile device of the individual as at least one of;

a push notification or an automated text message, wherein the alert activates an application operating on the mobile device to cause display of the selectable option that enables connection to the system over the Internet, wherein the alert includes the selectable option for display as at least one of a link or a button;

receive a response from the mobile device of the individual indicating that the selectable option within the alert was selected; and

based on the response received from the mobile device of the individual, automatically prevent a release of credit data associated with the individual to the requesting entity.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the alert further includes a selectable option to place a freeze on a credit file of the individual.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the alert is provided to the individual prior to the inquiry request causing any change to credit data associated with the individual.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the computing device is further configured to establish a time period of a predetermined length during which the individual may respond to the alert, wherein the time period is set to be a predetermined number of seconds or minutes, wherein the system is configured to release credit data associated with the individual to the requesting entity as a default action at the end of the time period unless a response to the alert is received by the system during the time period.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the computing device is further configured to process the inquiry request with reference to the credit bureau database in parallel with the generating of the alert for delivery to the individual, wherein processing the inquiry request comprises retrieving credit data responsive to the inquiry request.